​PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA—As healthcare leaders tackle their capital planning and value analysis challenges in 2018, the last thing they’re looking for is an unwelcome surprise from another new technology that’s being hyped in the marketplace.

ECRI Institute, an independent nonprofit that researches the best approaches to improving patient care, announces the release of its annual Top 10 Hospital C-suite Watch List. The report helps healthcare leaders understand new and emerging innovations, including new apps to help treat opioid addiction, acuity-adaptable rooms, insertable cardiac monitors, and virtual reality for pediatric patients.

“This year we selected a range of technologies and infrastructure issues hospital leaders and their teams are facing, will be facing, or should consider,” says Diane C. Robertson, director, Health Technology Assessment, ECRI Institute.

Topping the list this year is the first FDA-approved medical app for opioid addiction. A form of telehealth, the app offers a way to strengthen recovery with ongoing, long-term support.

Direct-to-consumer genetic testing, coming in at No. 2, is changing how frontline clinicians interact with patients who pursue tests on their own.

“Hospital leaders often are not aware how much lab budgets are being blown by genetic testing, inappropriate use from lack of evidence-based information, and unreimbursed testing. Now that direct-to-consumer testing provides health information to patients, it will drive them to seek attention to understand the implications of their test results,” adds Robertson.

Other topics include microhospitals; a non-invasive device for treating Alzheimer’s disease; neonatal MRI systems in the NICU; GammaTile™ Cs-131 radiation therapy for fighting brain tumors; and a special needle for reducing pain during blood draw.

“Nobody pays us to produce our C-suite watch list—it’s built on our deep, independent expertise for how to address today’s and tomorrow’s healthcare challenges. Many healthcare leaders use this as a springboard for informed decision making in their capital planning programs and strategic initiatives,” says Robert P. Maliff, director, strategic growth and business development, ECRI Institute.

Available as a public service, the new report gives hospital leaders evidence-based perspectives on innovations and care delivery trends that have the potential to impact cost, quality, and patient outcomes. Each entry includes actionable recommendations in a quick-glance “What to Do” section.

The watch list draws upon ECRI Institute’s 50 years of experience evaluating and providing technical assistance on the safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of health technologies. It reflects the unbiased, independent judgment of the Institute’s multidisciplinary staff of clinical and technical researchers, engineers, risk management specialists, and healthcare planners and consultants.

About ECRI InstituteECRI Institute (www.ecri.org), a nonprofit organization, dedicates itself to bringing the discipline of applied scientific research to healthcare to discover which medical procedures, devices, drugs, and processes enable improved patient care. As pioneers in this science for 50 years, ECRI Institute marries experience and independence with the objectivity of evidence-based research. Strict conflict-of-interest guidelines ensure objectivity. ECRI Institute is designated an Evidence-based Practice Center by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. ECRI Institute PSO is listed as a federally certified Patient Safety Organization by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Find ECRI Institute on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ECRIInstitute) and on Twitter (www.twitter.com/ECRI_Institute).

​We don't make any technology decisions without checking with ECRI first.

Ryan Beaver

Director of Supply Chain Management, St. Clair Hospital

Risk Management Basics is a very useful course that
should be attended by all quality officers or risk managers, as well as
hospital administrators. It helped in creating risk management policies and
plans in my hospital.

​ECRI Institute identified over $500,000 savings for one of my surgery centers and supported materials management with precise detail, system training and negotiation tips.

Terry Bohlke

Vice President of Operations, National Surgical Healthcare

​PriceGuide identified nearly $800,000 in savings on our orthopedic spend. We love the transparency that the tool offers across all vendors' pricing. Information is power!

Michelle Punshon

Administrative Director, Coastal Orthopedics

TruVu allows us to predict the total cost of ownership of equipment, including installation, service, staffing, cybersecurity, and upgrades.

Charlie Miceli, CPM

Vice President and Network Chief Supply Chain Officer, The University of Vermont Health Network

​ECRI institute helped us establish a predictive replacement plan that takes the guesswork out of our capital spending. Now, we are better positioned to make the right purchasing and replacement decisions at the right time.

Geoffrey A. Morgan

Vice President, Expanded Access, Washington Adventist Hospital

​ECRI Institute is a key decision support resource for us in supply chain and ultimately in supporting patient care.

Charlie Miceli, CPM

Vice President and Network Chief Supply Chain Officer, The University of Vermont Health Network

​ECRI
Institute’s technical and market analyses provide our knowledge-base when
sitting down with physicians and clinicians to discuss requested equipment.

Bruce Kehr

Vice President for Supply Chain, Summit Health

​ECRI
Institute has been a significant resource in partnering with us to optimize
costs associated with medical supplies and equipment.

Rita White

Senior Director of Supply Chain, Reading Health System

​ECRI
Institute’s research has also been invaluable to us. Time and resources are
always saved when you have a good roadmap to follow.